29 Jun Off the Mat, into Nature

Yoga, a practice developed in India thousands of years ago, is now arguably one of the most popular forms of fitness in the world. But as anyone who has practiced yoga for a prolonged period of time can attest, yoga can be about much more than a good workout. Originally developed as a spiritual practice, it wasn’t until much later that yoga took the physical form, or asanas (poses), for which it is so widely known today.

Lake Tahoe’s various communities are—as can be expected from an area that draws passionate naturalists and health-conscious athletes—bountifully filled with yoga studios. For many practitioners, yoga is simply an enjoyable form of exercise. For others, yoga is a way of life that centers on mindfulness training and presence practice. What happens on the mat is just a small piece of the puzzle. For these individuals, the focus is on “living yoga.”

Connecting with Nature

“Living yoga is a deep practice of inner connection to the rhythms of one’s surroundings and nature. It is the ability to establish peace from within, to the deep roots of one’s being,” says Audrey Villanueva, a South Lake Tahoe yoga instructor. “Learning to go with the flow, the rise and fall of the tides, the moon and the sun, as one finds a moving meditation working towards relaxation, balance and a deeper connection with the self and giving to something greater.”

For students of living yoga, taking the practice into nature plays a vital role on the path. Contrast an overcrowded room with unnatural light, linear structures, a wall of mirrors and the thick stench of sweat to an open vista, a fresh mountain breeze, the ability to practice sun salutations facing the warming light of the sun, and tree poses that root deep into the heart of Mother Earth.

“I like practicing outside because of the direct connection with the fresh air, especially in a place that has lots of oxygen-producing trees and plants,” says Scott Nanamura, a South Shore–based acupuncturist and yoga instructor. “Either in the shade or in the sun, you can feel the quality of the air around you as you move through it, giving you a deeper connection with your movements.”

Felix Brosch, who with his wife Kelly owns Gaia-Licious Global Gifts, a South Lake Tahoe shop that sells yoga apparel among its products, attributes the benefits of outdoor yoga to the power of place and the connection with nature. “Yoga is all about inhale/exhale—the pranayama,” says Brosch. “You give yourself the freshest air, feel the elements. That’s why outdoor yoga is so powerful. You can really find your balance.”

When it comes to meditation, a pivotal practice in yoga, the stillness found in a calm lake that perfectly reflects the rich blue sky and craggy mountain peaks or the gentle flow of a creek can be a great teacher. Nature carries with it a link to ancestors and offers a window into the present moment, a place where time does not represent stress and deadlines, but rather a rhythm and a pulse that can be attuned through mindfulness. The benefits gained from this type of experience—transcending the ego and realizing a connection with all life—are tantamount to important issues like protecting the environment and creating a more peaceful and harmonious world.

Heading Outdoors

For those who live in densely populated city centers, interactions with nature can unfortunately be few and far between. Those fortunate enough to live at or visit Lake Tahoe have a unique opportunity not only to explore a vast and beautiful wilderness, but to use the wild and pristine nature found here to transform us. One way this can be done is through developing an outdoor yoga practice. Tahoe is generous with its natural yoga spaces. In the South Lake Tahoe region, one can choose between practicing at Kiva Beach, with the possibility of a bald eagle soaring overhead, at an Emerald Bay lookout with osprey chicks calling out to their mother, or on granite plateaus at one of the many alpine lakes in Desolation Wilderness.

“We do mountain pose and face an actual mountain,” says Brosch, who lists Fallen Leaf Lake as a favorite spot for outdoor yoga. “Or you do tree pose surrounded by trees.”

Practitioners can choose from the East Shore’s sandy beaches, the West Shore’s grassy Page Meadows, a stand-up paddleboard off the North Shore or perhaps a quiet dock on Truckee’s Donner Lake. The opportunities for creating truly transformational yoga practices in nature are endless.

One might think, “But I need a perfectly flat surface for my yoga mat.” First of all, the yoga mat is only a recent invention within the last century. The ancient practice thrived long before the introduction of the mat. Although yoga mats are nice and useful, it can be beneficial once in a while to practice without them. This can help us to get out of a linear mindset and begin thinking more cyclically. Second, slightly uneven surfaces can help to develop smaller, balance-oriented muscles that practitioners are not used to using. And hiking to do yoga is a great way to warm the muscles for a deeper stretch, leading to increased flexibility. With an abundance of fresh air, participants will find themselves breathing deeper, focusing more on breath and activating their olfactory senses. The vastness of nature will prompt them to extend their heart and limbs outward in the most expansive ways possible, building confidence, strength and power into their poses. And, of course, the quiet sounds of nature will help to calm the mind and bring practitioners deep into the present moment where a wellspring of gratitude and peace flows.

Erica Hartnick leads mindful adventures and outdoor yoga classes in South Lake Tahoe and beyond. She is the co-founder of the community @yogatrade. Connect at www.ericahartnick.com.